Electrically controlled lock for automobile doors



April 22, 1952 GL SKO 2,594,151

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed June 14, 1951 NVENTOR. 2a 1 M lads U A? 7"- rmz'ma n2 Patented Apr. 22, 1952 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED LOCK-FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Joseph Glusko, J ohnstown, Pa. Application June 14, 1951, serial No. 231,573

6 Claims. 1,

This invention relates to latches for automobile doors, and more particularly to latches that.

automatically lock themselves and require closing of an electric circuit to unlock them.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide such a latch which is positive in operation, which is simple in construction, which will not become released if the car is driven over a rough road, which can be unlocked by a key if desired, and which can be held unlocked if it is desired not to use electric current for unlocking it.

In accordance with this invention, a latch-shaft and an operating shaft are rotatably supported in a case. The case is designed to be mounted in an automobile door, and a latch is mounted on the outer end of the latch shaft for holding the door closed. A spring is connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position. Manually operable means are provided for turning the operating shaft, which is operably connected to the latch shaft for swinging the latch out of door latching position. A movable locking member is connected to the operating shaft for rotation with it and movement lengthwise of it. A springnormally holds the locking member in engagement with stationary locking means to prevent the operating shaft from rotating. An armature is connected to the locking member, and a solenoid coil is spaced from the armature. When the coil is energized, it draws the armature toward it and thus withdraws the locking member from the stationary locking means to permit the operating shaft to be turned by someone wishing to open the door. Means also can be provided for unlocking the door from the outside with a key, and for holding the locking member out of engagement with the locking means when it is not desired to use the lock.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my lock; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the lock and Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections taken on the lines IV-IV and V-V, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring to the. drawings, a metal case I is adapted to be mounted in an automobile door, indicated by broken lines around the case. The front end of the case has an end wall that extends above and below the upper and lower walls of the case for attachment to the edge of the door. This endwall is provided with a central-opening in which a latch shaft? is rotatably mounted. The shaft is supported inside thecase by a bearingt attached to its end wall. and by another bearing 4 near the rear end of the shaft fastened to theside wall of the case. The outer or front end of the shaft carries a latch 6 provided with a collar 1 that engages the end wall of the case. This latch normally is held in its lower, downwardly inclined position by means of a torsion spring 8 which is wound around the shaft between the two bearings. The inner end of the spring is attached to the shaft, and the outer end is attached to the upper wall of the case. This spring tends to rotate the shaft in a direction to swing the latch downward into latching position. The rear end of the latch shaft carries a collar 9, from the rear face of which a pair of diametrically opposite lugs 10 project.

Rotatably mounted inside the case in axial alignment with the latch shaft, is an operating shaft [2 which is supported by bearings I3 and M spaced from its opposite ends. The front end of the shaft next to the latch shaft carries a collar 16, from the front face of which a .pair of diametrically spaced lugs I1 project between lugs It on collar 9. The pressure of spring 8 normally holds lugs 10 against the sides of lugs H, but this arrangement allows the latch shaft to be turned by latch 6 when thecar door is closed, without turning or being restrained by the operating shaft.

Rigidly mounted on the operating shaft a shor distance behind its front bearing [3 is a collar l8, which has at diametrically spaced points a pair of lugs I9 and 20 projecting in opposite directions along the shaft. Rotatably mounted on the shaft between its front bearing and this collar is the annular upper portion 22 of a lever 23 that hangs down through a slot 24 in the lower wall of the case. portion of this lever is provided on its rear face with a lug 25 which is adapted to engage the side of lug I9 next to the side wall of the case. The lower end of the lever is pivotally connected to a horizontal link 26 that extends through the inner side of the car door for attachment to a push button (not shown). When the link is pushed, it will swing the lever outward and thereby rotate the operating shaft which, by means of lugs ll, will rotate the latch shaft and thereby swing latch 6 upward into unlatching position. When the lever is released, the spring will return the two shafts to their original 'po sitions.

Also rotatably mounted on the operating shaft behind collar i8 is the annular lower portion 28' of another lever 29"which is plvotally con The top of the upper nected to a link 30 that extends out through an opening 3| in the side wall of the case. The outer end of this link is intended to be connected to a push button (not shown) at the outside of the car door. The lower portion of this lever is provided on its front face with a lug 33 adapted to engage the side of lug 20 farthest from the case side wall. Consequently, when link 30 is pushed, it will swing lever 29 and rotate the operating shaft and the latch shaft. Normal engagement of the upper end of lever 29 with the side wall of the case at the bottom of opening 3| limits the distance that spring 8 can turn the operating shaft. The operating connections between the two levers and the operating shaft permits that shaft to be turned by either lever without moving the otherlever.

It is a feature of this invention, however, that the operating shaft can not be rotated bythe levers under normal conditions, because it is locked against rotation. Locking is accomplished by providing the rear end portion of the operating shaft with an axial bore 35, and by providing the side walls of the bore with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 36 extending length- ,wise of the shaft. The rear end of the shaft extends into a socket 31 which is rigidly mounted on the side wall of the case. The center of the socket is provided with an opening in line with the bore in the shaft, but it has a smaller diameter. Slidably mounted in this opening and extending into the adjoining shaft is a pin 38, on the rear end of which there is a circular armature 39. A coil spring 41 encircles the pin in bore 35 and is compressed between the end wall of the socket and a bar 42 that extends across the inner end of the pin, to which the bar is fastened. The ends of this bar extend through shaft slots 36 and out through notches 43 in the adjoining bearing 14. Consequently, the operating shaft can not be rotated as long as the ends of the bar are in the bearing notches.

To pull bar 42 out of notches 43, a solenoid coil 46 is mounted on the rear end wall of the ,case and is connected by suitable wiring 4! to a .push button switch 48 which may be mounted onthe dashboard of .the automobile or in some other location satisfactory to the driver. When the switch is closed the solenoid draws the armature 39 toward it, which pulls the locking bar out of notches 43. Then the operating shaft can be turned by either one of the levers 23 or 29. i

This lock may. be .provided with means for unlocking it from the outside with a key. For

example, a lever or bell crank is 'pivotally mounted on the side wall of the case above armature 39, and the downwardly extending arm of the crank is bifurcated and straddles the armature pin 38 between the armature and socket 31. The other end of the crank is engaged by an arm 52 which, when swung downward, will swing the upper end of the crank and thereby cause its bifurcated lower end to push the armature back away from the socket in order to withdraw locking bar 52 from notches 43. The arm is mounted on a short shaft 53 that extends through the case side wall and is provided at its outer end with a slot, by which it can be turned in the usual way by a key-operated look (not shown). The forked part of the crank is urged toward socket 31 by a torsion spring 54 coiled around shaft 50.

also can be provided with means for holding the This lock the window frame in the car door so that it y can be actuated by an occupant. If it is desired to render the lock inoperable, switch 48 is closed to cause the armature to be drawn to ward the coil. Before the switch is allowed to open, lever 56 is swung to its other position, which swings its lower end in between the armature and socket 37. Consequently, when the switch opens, the armature will be prevented by the lever from returning to the socket, and locking bar 42 will remain out of notches 43, so the latch will remain unlocked.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustratedand described.

I claim:

1. An automobile door lock comprising a latch shaft and an operating shaft, bearings rotatably supporting the shafts, a latch on the outer end of the latch shaft, a spring connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position, manually operable means for turning the operating shaft, means operably con meeting the two shafts so that when the operating shaft is turned it will turn the latch shaft to swing said latch out of door latching position, a movable locking member connected to the operating shaft for rotation therewith and movement lengthwise thereof, stationary locking means, a spring normally holding the locking member in engagement with said locking means to hold the operating shaft against rotation, an armature connected to the locking member, a

solenoid coil spaced from the armature, and

manually controlled means for energizing the coil to draw the armature toward it and thus withdraw the locking member from said locking means to permit the operating shaft to be turned by said manually operable means. I

2. An automobile door'lock comprising a latch shaft and an operating shaft, bearings rotatably supporting the shafts, a latch on the outer end of the latch shaft, a spring connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position, manually operable means for turning the operating shaft, means operably connecting the two shafts so that when the operating shaft is'turned it will turn the latch shaft to swing said latch out of door latching position, one end of the operating shaft being provided with an axial bore and the wall of the bore being provided with a slot extending lengthwise of the shaft, a pin slidably mounted in said bore and projecting from its outer end, a locking member fastened to the inner end of the pin and extending laterally out through said slot, stationary locking means provided with a notch, a spring normally urging said pin toward the inner endof said bore to hold the locking member in said notch, whereby to lock the operating shaft against rotation, an armature mounted on the outer'end of the pin, an electro magnet spaced from the armature, and manuab 1y controlled means for energizing the electromagnet to draw the armature toward it to withdraw the locking member from said notch so that the operating shaft can be turned by said manually operable means.

3. An automobile door lock comprising a latch shaft and an operating shaft, bearings rotatably supporting the shafts, a latch on the outer end of the latch shaft, a spring connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position, manually operable means for turning the operating shaft, means operably connecting the two shafts so that when the operating shaft is turned it will turn the latch shaft to swing said latch out of door latching position, one end of the operating shaft being provided with an axial bore and thewall of the bore being provided with a slot extending lengthwise of the shaft, a stationary member mounted at the outer end of said bore and provided with an opening in line with it, a pin slidably mounted in said bore and projecting through said opening, looking member fastened to the inner end of the pin and extending laterally out through said slot, stationary locking means provided with a notch, a coil spring encircling the pin and compressed between said locking member and stationary member for urging said pin toward the inner end of said bore to hold the locking member in said notch, whereby to lock the operating shaft against rotation, an armature mounted on the outer end of the pin, an electromagnet spaced from the armature, manually controlled means for energizing the electromagnet to draw the armature toward it to withdraw the locking member from said notch so that the operating shaft can be turned by said manually operable means.

4. An automobile door lock comprisinga latch shaft and an operating shaft, bearings rotatably supporting the shafts, a latch on the outer end of the latch shaft, a spring connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position, manually operable means for turning the operating shaft, means operably connecting the two shafts so that when the operating shaft is turned it will turn the latch shaft to swing said latch out of door latching position, a movable locking member connected to the operating shaft for rotation therewith and movement lengthwise thereof, stationary locking means, a

' spring normally holding the locking member in engagement with said locking means to hold the operating shaft against rotation, an armature connected to the locking member, a solenoid coil spaced from the armature, manually controlled means for energizing the coil to draw the armature toward it and thus withdraw the locking member from said locking means to permit the operating shaft to be turned by said manually operable means, and a manually operable lever mounted beside the space between the armature and coil and adapted to be swung between the armature and operating shaft after the armature has been drawn toward the coil, whereby to prevent said locking member from returning to engagement with said locking means when the coil is de-energized.

5. An automobile door lock comprising a latch shaft and an operating shaft, bearings rotatably supporting the shafts, a latch on the outer end of the latch shaft, a spring connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position, manually operable means for turning the operating shaft, means opera'bly connecting the two shafts so that when the operating shaft is turned it will turn the latch shaft to swing said latch of door latching position, a movable locking member connected to the operating shaft for rotation therewith and movement lengthwise thereof, stationary locking means, a spring normally holding the locking member in engagement with said locking means to hold the operating shaft against rotation, an armature connected to the locking member, a solenoid coil spaced from the armature, manually controlled means for energizing the coil to draw the armature toward it and thus withdraw the locking member from said locking means to permit the operatin shaft to be turned by said manually operable means, a pivotally mounted lever having one end disposed between the armature and operating shaft, and a key-actuated member en aging the opposite end of the lever for swinging the lever to push the armature toward said coil when it is desired to unlock the operating shaft while the coil is de-energized.

6. An automobile door lock comprising a latch shaft and an operating shaft aligned with it, bearings rotatably supporting the shafts, a latch on the outer end of the latch shaft, a spring connected to the latch shaft for rotating it to swing the latch into door latching position, manually operable means for turning the operating shaft, collars mounted on the adjacent ends of the two shafts, each collar being provided with a lug projecting toward the other collar beside the lug thereon, said lugs being positioned to transmit rotation from the operating shaft to the latch shaft when the operating shaft is turned, whereby to swing said latch out of door latching position, a movable locking member connected to the operating shaft for rotation therewith and movement lengthwise thereof, stationary locking means, a spring normally holding the locking member in engagement with said locking means to hold the operating shaft against rotation, an armature connected to the locking member, a solenoid coil spaced from the armature, and manually controlled means for energizing the coil to draw the armature toward it and thus withdraw the locking member from said locking means to permit the operating shaft to be turned by said manually operable means.

JOSEPH GLUSKO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,199,199 Mason Sept. 26, 1916 1,637,366 Westfield Aug. 2, 1927 2,031,738 Schoch Feb. 25, 1936 2,103,702 Tibbets Dec. 28, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 161,053 Germany May 31, 1905 827,810 France Jan. 28, 1938 

